📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

The First Jobs of Highly Successful People Did you know that Meghan Markle, the actress turned Duchess of Sussex, worked as a calligraphy writer?

By Entrepreneur Staff

entrepreneur daily
Chris Jackson | Getty Images

Everyone has to enter the workforce somewhere, even royalty. Before Meghan Markle tied the knot with Prince Harry or landed her big break as an actress on Suits, she worked as a wedding invitation calligraphy writer.

"I would sit there with a little white tube sock on my hand so no hand oils got on the card, trying to pay my bills while auditioning," Markle told Esquire.

Related: 11 Successful Entrepreneurs Reveal What They Learned From Their First Jobs

Though the Duchess of Sussex didn't handwrite the invitations to her own royal wedding, she knows the most accomplished people worked their fair share of jobs.

From stripper to banana mascot to christmas tree exterminator, here are the odd first jobs that highly successly people had to do to make ends meet.

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Devices

Keep the Office Cool This Summer with $10 Off a Klima Thermostat

The Klima Smart Thermostat can turn your existing mini split, heat pump, or AC into a smart unit.

Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

He Started a Luxury Side Hustle at Age 13 — Now the Business Earns More Than $10 Million a Year: 'People Want to Help You When You're Young'

Michael Morgan, now the owner of Iconic Watch Company, always had a passion for "old things" — and he turned it into a lucrative venture.

Science & Technology

Exploring How Virtual Reality is Changing Startups

Virtual reality's immersive environment is where startup marketing is headed, and early adopters will be the ones who profit.

Money & Finance

12 Books That Self-Made Millionaires Swear By

The bookshelves of millionaires can inspire you to build your wealth. Here are 12 must-reads they recommend.